On Monday evening, @Chloé Krebs & @Julian Middelmann got their first real taste of what it’s like to move through the water anchored by DragSox… and somehow still go fast. After a warm‑up we hit a little “fun” UW set: 8x (2x fins, 2x fins + Sox, 2x Sox, 2x no mat) 4x 15" vertical ez 2x 15 fish drill 2x 10" vertical all out 4x kick to turn (no wall) to UW kick → sprint 2x 15 dead‑start UW sprint 2x 15 UW sprint 50 ez No video (coach fail), but the times tell the story: before the set, 15 m UW all‑out was 8.0" for Julian and 9.0" for Chloé.On the first round without mat they popped a sub‑7" for Julian and 7.5" for Chloé. Underwaters woke up real quick. First feedback – ask them yourselves:“With the Sox it’s basically impossible to kick… and when you take them off it feels INSANE.” I asked: “If you did this for a full year, do you think your underwaters would be faster?” Both: 100% yes. That’s pretty much what Gretchen Walsh is doing on the daily. Super pumped to see all of you hammering sets with the Sox at camp – got a whole toolbox of nasty - I mean fun - ideas to squeeze every meter out of your underwaters. See y’all at the pool soon!!!

Hi everyone ! Which kind of pins do you use ? I have arena Power fin but in one feet my big toe hurts a lot so I need to find a different model…Maybe closed on the top! Any suggestion? Thank you so much

Competition season always brings out new challenges, and for many swimmers, the 200-meter races can feel a bit intimidating, especially if you haven’t raced them very often. Whether it’s 200 Freestyle, Butterfly, Backstroke, or Breaststroke, swimming a great 200 isn’t about luck—it’s about knowing your effort levels and getting into your rhythm as quickly as you can. If you haven’t trained race-pace 200s much, or if the 200 isn’t your usual event, try this approach in your next race: focus on coming off every wall like a sprinter. That means: push off hard, use powerful underwater kicks, and take the first 1–2 stroke cycles all out before you settle into your “200 cruising speed.” Why do this? It’s way easier to settle into a strong pace after a fast start than it is to start slow and try to speed up later. Imagine you’re in training and do a 50 where you try to increase speed the whole way: it’s tough to hit top speed by the end, especially in long course. But if you explode from the start, you can easily settle down into your best speed. This works for the 200 as well—the most powerful moment is right after the push-off, so use it to your advantage. Remember, this isn’t a magic trick for perfect races. Real improvement only comes from consistent, focused training. But if 200s aren’t your regular race, this “fast start, settle in” strategy is an awesome way to find your rhythm, race with confidence, and maybe surprise yourself with a new personal best! Good luck this season—race smart and have fun out there! PS - The rhythm you establish from the very beginning influences everything: if you start fast and get into your 200 pacing early, you’ll have better control over your splits and feel more “in the race” from the start. On the other hand, starting too slow makes it much tougher to ramp up the tempo and energy, especially in a 200 where the balance between speed and endurance is so important. That’s why, especially for less experienced 200m swimmers, this approach of maximizing your start—and then settling in—can make a big difference in both your experience and your final time.

Hi all, just thought to open this one. How long after having a fever and mild cold do you let your children into pool? What is your recovery time for them? Also, in the week after this, do you let them go back fully or slow? Example - when Sara is sick (which is unfortunately this weekend), I always make her stay home +48h after last fever above 37C. But then I always struggle with - should I allow her go back in full training course, also morning or just afternoons, so she gradually gets back into it. She has now two competitions in a row in next two weekends. I am interested in what you think, also @David Karasek and @Yul Münger :) thank you ;)

O no Freya has woke up with tonsillitis on the morning of her 1500 I want to pull her out but she want to see later on @David Karasek @Yul Münger help thank you